However, the existence of hydrogen nuclei is matter of fact. Hence, based on this approach a hydrogen nucleus cannot exist. Applying the equation of beta plus decay, it results that a proton splits into one neutron and one positron (including one neutrino as well).

This nucleus contains only one proton and nothing else. Let's consider the hydrogen nucleus to illustrate this fact. Both reactions of beta decay occur in such a way that the daughter particle moves closer to the stability zone. Neutrino and antineutrino (referred to by the common name ' leptons') are particles that do not naturally exist in the nucleus they are created only in the moment at which the beta decay is taking place. The discovery of these two elementary particles is attributed to Wolfgang Pauli - a German scientist who was the first to understand the need for a new particle to make the conservation laws (of energy and impulse) applicable in beta decay equations.īoth types of beta decay reactions occur for the purpose to make the daughter nucleus be closer to the stability zone, as shown in the graph below. Thus, in beta minus decay, a neutron splits into one proton and one electron according to the relation:Īntineutrino and neutrino do not contain any electric charge they are involved in the process only for the energy conservation purpose. As a result, any of extra particles splits in two parts. Many years later, a new elementary particle known as positron, which has the same mass as electron but is positively charge, it was observed that there are two types of beta decay: beta minus ( β-) and beta plus ( β + ).īeta decay occurs when there is excess of any particle (neutron or proton) in the atomic nucleus a neutron or a proton. Later on, it was discovered that such particles are nothing more but electrons. The name beta ( β) particles was given to those moving in opposite direction to alpha ones and the naturally occurring decay process of such particles was called beta decay. This means such traces are produced by negatively charged particles, as alpha particles are positive (they are helium nuclei). In the experiment of Becquerel, there were some traces on the film plate in the opposite direction to those produced by alpha particles. Welcome to our Physics lesson on Beta Decay, this is the third lesson of our suite of physics lessons covering the topic of Radioactivity and Half-Life, you can find links to the other lessons within this tutorial and access additional physics learning resources below this lesson.

Neutrino plus ios